Non-fee-paying schools have made the greatest strides in third-level progression since 2012, according to figures published for the first time in today's Irish Times School League Tables.
Just two fee-paying schools – Notre Dame de Missions in south County Dublin, and Newtown School in Waterford – feature in the top 20 list of Most Improved Schools.
Non-fee-paying schools also record the largest falls in third-level progression, with most fee-paying schools – including Blackrock College, The Kings Hospital in Palmerstown, Loreto Abbey in Dalkey, Terenure College, and St Gerards in Bray – staying reasonably steady when the 2012 and 2013 figures are compared.
Rising numbers of students are proceeding to third-level education. A decade ago, when The Irish Times first published these lists, the average progression rate was around 70 per cent.
Now most schools are sending 80 per cent or more of their students to third-level, and these figures are rising.
According to the best estimates of the Higher Education Authority, there are just over 168,000 students in full-time higher education today, and this figure is expected to increase every year, reaching a projected number of 208,416 by the year 2026.
This year The Irish Times is identifying the long-term progression of students in Irish second-level schools, with the School League Table list recording every student from each of the schools, who sat their Leaving Cert in 2013 and in previous years.
Presentation Secondary School in Galway records the single highest rise in third-level progression since 2012, with a 61 per cent increase.
The number of students who sat the Leaving Cert in this school in 2013, however, is relatively small, and this may account for some of the increase.
By contrast, the second most improved school in this year’s list, Coláiste Íde agus Iosaef in Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, which had 104 students sitting the Leaving Cert, records a 56 per cent increase in third-level progression.
This school was founded from a merger between three local schools in 2011, with some local opposition and apprehension, so the school management will be pleased that the school has shown signs of improvement in a few short years.
In Dublin, the school with the greatest improvement is De La Salle College in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, which has just 37 Leaving Certificate sits and a 44 per cent increase.
Outside Leinster and Connaught, the most improved school, according to these figures, is Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa on Tramore Road in Cork; however, the school has just 12 sits.
Jobstown Community College, a disadvantaged school in Tallaght, Dublin 24, also records a strong increase, with an additional 33 per cent of students progressing to third-level since 2012.
